Ball point pen, including personalized display element



M. LY SIEGEL May l0, 1966 BALL POINT PEN, INCLUDING PERSONALIZED DISPLAY ELEMENT /trll Filed Jan. 22, 1964 Lil i A /fVl/ENTOI?l Milton |.Segel Sparrow ond Sparrow ATTOR N E YS United States Patent Op 3,250,033 BALL PGINT PEN, INCLUDING PERSONALIZED DISPLAY ELEMENT Milton I. Siegel, New York, N.Y., assignor to Duro Pen Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 339,486 6 Claims. (Cl. 40e334) This invention relates generally to ball point writing implements and more particularly to the type adapted to visibly carry a message.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing implement, such as a ball point pen, wherein very simple, practical, economical and eiicient means are provided for displaying indicia, such asa slogan, advertisement, message or the like, and associating therewith a personalized display element, carrying, for example, the name of the user of the pen.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ball point pen in which the aforementioned means comprises a tube-like member having longitudinal slot, and the aforementioned element comprises a plate, strip or ller tting said slot. I

Another object of the present invention is to utilize a pressure sensitive strip as the element.

lVarious further and more specic objects, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and illustrate merely by way of example certain embodiments by which the invention may be realized. In the following description and inthe claims, parts will be identied by specific names for, convenience, but such names are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote like parts 'in the severaly figures of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, partly sectioned view, on an enlarged scale (portions being broken away) of a ball point pen illustrating the invention in one of its embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view (in perspective) depicting the elements of the pen shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the message carrying member or element employable in the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the personalized namecarrying plate or strip employable in the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded view on an enlarged scale (in perspective) depicting elements of a pen according to the invention in modified form.

Reference will now be made in more detail toexamples, according to the invention.

In FIG. 1 there is disclosed by way of example a ball point pen generally indicated by the numeral 10, having a housing or barrel 11 made of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, etc., to which is threadedly engaged a'cap 12. Within barrel 11 there is housed a ball point cartridge 13 which may be of conventional type. A cornpression spring 14 encompasses the lower intermediate portion of cartridge 13 and is disposed between a boss or enlargement 1 5 formed on-the cartridge land an internal annular shoulder-16 provided within barrel 11 at the tip portion 17 thereof. Spring 14 cooperates with a pushbutton mechanism 18 for protracting and retracting the cartridge and thereby the ball point writing end of tip thereof.

Above or adjacent the tip portion 17 of housing or barrel 11, the latter is reduced in diameter throughout the remainder thereof. An annular shoulder 19 is thus provided, adapted to seat in concentric, or superposed relation, two tubular or sleevelike members 20 and 23, inner and outer, respectively.

3,256,033 Patented May 10, 1966 ICC Sleeve 20 is preferably opaque and is adapted to carry indicia, such'as an advertisement, slogan or message 20a. It is to be particularly noted, however, that sleeve 20 is slotted longitudinally, preferably throughout its length, as indicated at 21, adapted to accommodate between its longitudinal edges 21a'and 2lb an insert, plate or strip 22 carrying a personal name 22a, such as the name of the owner of the pen, which name may be printed, embossed, impressed or otherwise indicated on insert 22. Insert 22 may be made of plastic, paper or any other suitable material, preferably coated with pressure sensitive adhesive on. the side contacting the surface of barrel 11.

Sleeve 23, which is superposed on sleeve 20 and insert 22, is transparent or translucent so that Ithe indicia on slotted sleeve 20 and insert 22 may be visible therethrough.

`In the construction of the example shown in the drawing, sleeves 20 and 23 in their superposed relation are seated on the annular shoulder 19 and preferably extend tothe top 24 of barrel 11 where they may be retained in position by cap 12 of barrel 11, it being understood, however, that they may be retained in position by frictional engagement or other means. Insert or strip 22 may be coterminous with sleeve 20 or 23, or may be shorter.

From the foregoing description, it can be readily seen that the pen depicted in FIGS. 1-4, is very simple, practical and accomplishes its intended purpose with a minimal of parts. The construction is very simple and the tubular members or sleeves 20 and 23, as well as the insert 22, are easily removed and replaced. Standard ball pointcartridge, compression spring and protract-retract mechanism may be employed. Sleeve 20- may be made of paper, glass, plastic or any suitable composition of material, and transparent sleeve 23 may be made of glass,

plastic or other suitable material.

According to FIG. 5, sleeve 20 may be eliminated, and

the indicia or advertising message 20a may be carried di- I Message 20a may be either printed, embossed or impressed on sleeve 20 or barrel 11, or may be applied thereto in the form of a sticker or pressure sensitive label.

A specific embodiment of the disclosure described herein, but not limited thereto, comprises a barrel 11, having a forwardly extending tapered portion 17a and a cylindrical portion 17b provided with an open end 17C at its rear, a cap 12 engaging open end 17e, an inwardly directed annular shoulder 19 formed at the juncture of said cylindrical and tip portions, cylindrical portion 17b extending rearwardly from the innermost extremity 19a of shoulder 19 to the open end 17C, a first or inner longitudinally sloted member 20` 4encompassing or circumposing cylindrical portion 17b, .an insert 22 located in slot 21, a second or outer member 23 encompassing or circumposing member 20 and insert 22, members 20, 22 and 23 being substantially coextensive with cylindrical portion 17b with one of their ends engaging shoulder 19 and their other ends engaging cap 12, barrel 17b having an internal annular shoulder 16 adjacent its tip portion 17a, a ball point cartridge 13 being located Within the barrel insertable therein through open end 17c,vtapered portion 17a having an opening 17d -at its forward end for protracting and retracting the ball point end 13a of the cartridge, cartridge 13 having an enlargement 15 intermediate its ends, and a compression spring 14 circumposing the cartridge and positioned between internal annular shoulder 16 and enlargement 15, and means including member 18 for protracting and cooperating with spring 14 for retracting the cartridge 13, which means may be of conventional type. And, as seen in FIG. 5, slotted sleeve 20 may be eliminated leaving insert 22 secured to barrel 11.

It is understood that sleeves 20 and 23 and the insert 22 are not limited in their application to ball point pens only, but may be readily adapted toy mechanical pencils and fountain pens.

Having described and illustrated my invention with respect to certain preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the principle of the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

I claim:

1. In a writing implement comprising a barrel and a writing tip connected 4to said barrel, the combination with a sleeve circumposing said barrel, said sleeve having a longitudinal slot, of an insert tting said slot and of a transparent tubular member circumposing said sleeve and said insert.

2. A writing instrument according to claim 1, said sleeve carrying general indicia and said insert carrying a specic identification.

3. A writing instrument according to claim 2, said insert being provided with a pressure sensitive coating contacting said barrel.

4. In a writing implement comprising a barrel, said barrel having a forwardly extending tapered portion and a cylindrical portion, an inwardly directed annular shoulder being formed at the juncture of said -cylindrical and tip portions, said cylindrical portion extending rearwardy from the innermost extremity of said shoulder, the combination with a substantially opaque sleeve disposed about said cylindrical portion, said sleeve having a longitudinal slot extending throughout the length thereof, of a longitudinal insert disposed within said slot and of a transparent member encompassing said sleeve and said insert, said sleeve and said member having one of their ends engaging said shoulder, and said tapered portion -being provided with writing means.

6. A writing instrument comprising a barrel, said barrel having a forwardly extending tapered portion and a cylindrical portion provided with an open end at its rear, a cap engaging said open end, an inwardly directed annular shoulder being formed at the juncture of said cylindrical and tip portions, said cylindrical portion extending rearwardly from the innermostl extremity of said shoulder to its said open end, a substantially opaque member circumposing said cylindrical portion, said member having alongitudinal slot extending throughout the length of said member, yan insert disposed Within said slot, a substantially transparent member circumposing said opaque member and said insert, said members being substantially coextensive with said cylindrical portion with one of their ends engaging said shoulder and their other ends engaging said cap whereby said members are maintained in position between said shoulder and said cap, said barrel having an internal annular shoulder adjacent its said tip portion, a ball point cartridge located within said barrel insertable therein through said open end, said tapered portion having an opening for protraction and retraction of the ball point end of said cartridge, said cartridge having an enlargemlent intermediate its ends, a compression spring circurn-posing said cartridge and being positioned between said internal anular shoulder and said enlargement, and means for protracting and cooperating with said spring for retracting said cartridge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,508,170 9/1924 Dolier 40-334 1,830,102 11/1931 Eelsemhal 40-334 1,932,658 10/1933 Goodfriend 40-125X 2,139,377 12/1938 Mull et a1. 40-125X 3,154,873 11/1964 shea.v 40-334 FOREIGN PATENTS 479,226 3/1953 Italy.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

JEROME SCHNALL, Examiner.

l I. WILHITE, WILLIAM GRIEB, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A WRITING IMPLEMENT COMPRISING A BARREL AND A WRITING TIP CONNECTED TO SAID BARREL, THE COMBINATION WITH A SLEEVE CIRCUMPOSING SAID BARREL, SAID SLEEVE HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT, OF AN INSERT FITTING SAID SLOT AND OF A TRANSPARENT TUBULAR MEMBER CIRCUMPOSING SAID SLEEVE AND SAID INSERT. 